Tablets – Pocketableshttp://www.pocketables.com
Tablet, Phone, & Mobile Gadget ReviewsTue, 26 Sep 2017 15:32:32 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.2106760342Amazon Underground Actually Free ends in Derailment! Comes off the tracks this summer!http://www.pocketables.com/2017/04/amazon-underground-actually-free-ends-in-derailment-comes-off-the-tracks-this-summer.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2017/04/amazon-underground-actually-free-ends-in-derailment-comes-off-the-tracks-this-summer.html#respondSat, 29 Apr 2017 03:18:04 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=99814Launched just two years ago (making many learn how to install a 3rd party APK for the first time); Amazon Underground Actually Free is coming off the rails, with a quiet announcement today that the program is ending buried in the developer section. It’s not all at once; but unless you’re on a Fire Tablet running the blessed [&hellip

Applications you already have installed (time to backup your APKs) won’t self-destruct; but again will work as-is at least until 2019. Amazon makes no mention of whether Android users will get the same patches that Amazon’s own Fire Tablet users will get or not!

Sure you can pick up a “cheap” laptop in this price range, but you are buying nice hardware; so unless you’re arguing for a Thinkpad keyboard, or a Dell XPS refurb at this price point, definitely take a look at this Refurb deal.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2017/03/deal-430-certified-refurbished-microsoft-surface-pro-3-256-gb8gbi5-4300u-amzn-linux-support.html/feed098891[YMMV Deal] “Operation Coffee Break” 16GB Apple iPad Mini4 $74 @Walmarthttp://www.pocketables.com/2017/02/ymmv-deal-16gb-apple-ipad-mini4-74-walmart.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2017/02/ymmv-deal-16gb-apple-ipad-mini4-74-walmart.html#respondMon, 27 Feb 2017 16:29:05 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=98672Looks like Walmart is clearing out the Apple iPad mini4, based on multiple rumors of a March announcement/replacement this kinda makes sense. This is Brick&Mortar only This is YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) The way Brickseek works is you drop your zip code into the appropriate field and it tells you who has stock. Around [&hellip

]]>Looks like Walmart is clearing out the Apple iPad mini4, based on multiple rumors of a March announcement/replacement this kinda makes sense.

This is Brick&Mortar only

This is YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)

The way Brickseek works is you drop your zip code into the appropriate field and it tells you who has stock.

Around me, there are two golds and one silver for $74, the colors are at separate stores, one 20mi West, one 40mi East. It looks like these are not popular in Beverly Hills, so dropping “90210” into the zip code shows stock in multiple colors at multiple stores [1121 EST].

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2017/02/ymmv-deal-16gb-apple-ipad-mini4-74-walmart.html/feed098672[Amazon Deal] Anker USB-C Adapter for Micro USB Cables $5.99 w/Codehttp://www.pocketables.com/2017/01/amazon-deal-anker-usb-c-adapter-for-micro-usb-cables-5-99-wcode.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2017/01/amazon-deal-anker-usb-c-adapter-for-micro-usb-cables-5-99-wcode.html#respondThu, 12 Jan 2017 00:11:07 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=97632This is just a wicked quick deal update for those of you (like me) with tangled balls of micro USB cables, and some USB-C devices just looking for a port to love. The Anker USB-C to Micro USB Adapter, (which has the) 56K Resistor and a quick check looked like it was Benson Approved is [&hellip

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2017/01/amazon-deal-anker-usb-c-adapter-for-micro-usb-cables-5-99-wcode.html/feed097632[Deal] $39 Huawei MateDock USB-C Docking Station: USB-C, USB3, Ethernet, HDMI, VGAhttp://www.pocketables.com/2016/12/deal-39-huawei-matedock-usb-c-docking-station-usb-c-usb3-ethernet-hdmi-vga.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2016/12/deal-39-huawei-matedock-usb-c-docking-station-usb-c-usb3-ethernet-hdmi-vga.html#respondSat, 24 Dec 2016 01:16:29 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=97366We don’t have this in house yet, but it is too good to pass up! (I ordered one while writing this) Normally listing at $89 on Amazon and currently $100.99 on Newegg, You can get the Huawei MateDock USB-C Docking Station for just $39 on Amazon right NOW! An honest full $50 off “normal” price! [&hellip

TabletPC review really liked it, but found it a bit bulky, but like the Sub-$100 Price; they also found when they attached: HDMI monitor, USB keyboard & mouse, Ethernet, and power; EVERYTHING worked exactly as expected!

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2016/12/deal-39-huawei-matedock-usb-c-docking-station-usb-c-usb3-ethernet-hdmi-vga.html/feed097366DEAL: Codes for large discounts on Google Engineer Benson “Approved” USB-C CHOETECH cables @Amazonhttp://www.pocketables.com/2016/12/deal-codes-large-discounts-google-engineer-benson-approved-usb-c-choetech-cables-amazon.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2016/12/deal-codes-large-discounts-google-engineer-benson-approved-usb-c-choetech-cables-amazon.html#respondWed, 07 Dec 2016 20:09:12 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=97087Amazon has some great deals with codes on some USB-C cables made by CHOETECH, while we haven’t reviewed these yet, some of are ordering our own! They make Google Chromebook Engineer Benson Leung’s “Approved” List, meaning they meet or exceed the USB-C spec! We think this first one will be very popular, what is [&hellip

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2016/10/deal-samsung-galaxy-tab-s2-8-0-3gb-ram-32gb-flash-249.html/feed0964873 Tablet Choices For Remote Workhttp://www.pocketables.com/2016/10/3-tablet-choices-remote-work.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2016/10/3-tablet-choices-remote-work.html#respondMon, 24 Oct 2016 17:57:19 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=96413When it’s time to do work, a laptop or desktop is often your best option. They offer the best balance of features that boost productivity and keep things simple. It’s just not the same working on a touchscreen tablet, especially when you need to have multiple apps and tools open at once. But one of [&hellip

When it’s time to do work, a laptop or desktop is often your best option. They offer the best balance of features that boost productivity and keep things simple. It’s just not the same working on a touchscreen tablet, especially when you need to have multiple apps and tools open at once.

But one of the caveats of being a remote worker is you don’t always have access to a desktop computer. You might be traveling or simply out running errands when a remote employer demands your attention, and trying to make quick edits to a document on your phone is often no easy task.

That’s where hybrid devices come into play. Hybrid laptops are certainly more powerful and capable, but they can also come with a hefty price tag — like desktops. An alternative would be to spring for a hybrid tablet. Keep in mind, usually the keyboard docks and cases are sold separately.

We’re talking about devices like the Microsoft Surface tablets, Asus Transformer or iPad with a proper keyboard case. They are essentially tablets, but they include a full QWERTY keyboard for typing and busy work.

There are many brands, models and types of tablets on the market, but today we’re going to focus on the best of the best. If you’re a remote worker — be it a designer, writer, photographer or developer — you’ll find the devices on this list to be just what you need.

Google’s Pixel C

Google is well known for their excellent quality hardware, specifically when it comes to the Nexus line. Sure, they don’t actually manufacture the devices in-house — the Nexus 6P is made by LG. Although, this practice has changed with the announcement of their new Pixel phones, which are built by Google.

Nevertheless, the Google Pixel C is currently one of the best hybrid tablets money can buy. If you’re an Android fan, you can’t go wrong here.

The Pixel C is designed to work with a keyboard companion, even if they don’t come bundled together.

As for the tablet, it’s running the latest version of Android — 6.0 Marshmallow — and has an excellent 10.2” display with a resolution of 2560×1800. The battery is also great, offering a purported 10 hours of battery life — so it should last you through the day, at least.

The entire tablet — keyboard dock included — is made of anodized aluminum, so it’s nice and sturdy. It won’t break when you toss it in your to-go bag.

Apple iPad Pro

Arguably, one of the best hybrid tablets for work and play is the Apple iPad Pro. After all, it was designed with the business professional in mind.

For starters, it’s much larger than its brethren at 12.9 inches — there’s a 9.7-inch model, too. That’s because more screen real estate means more space to do work and better efficiency. It also boasts a high-quality display, stylus support — one is included — and better performance all around.

The stylus — rightfully dubbed the Apple Pencil — is designed to mimic the feel of working with pen and paper. This makes the Apple iPad Pro the ideal device for graphics professionals, designers and even architects.

The iPad Pro can run powerful apps like AutoCAD 360, GarageBand, Concepts and Canva. These apps — or software — allow you to get your work done in a familiar environment. AutoCAD 360, for example, looks a lot like AutoCAD software you would use on a desktop.

This is important because most remote workers will need to be able to load and display project management software, as a number of telework employers require their employees to actively engage with kanban, agile or scrum project management tools. The iPad Pro can handle these well.

What It’s Best At: Thanks to the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro is designed to mimic traditional pen and paper, so it’s best for graphic design and hand-related duties. There are plenty of wireless keyboard accessories on the market too, so you can make it more like a laptop or desktop if need be.

Price: 12.9-inch model starts at $799

Chuwi Hi10 Plus

There are so many budget-friendly models to choose from, but the problem is you don’t just want cheap — you want reliable too. The Chuwi Hi10 Plus is our pick for a couple of reasons.

For starters, it’s a dual-boot tablet, which means you can choose between Android or Windows. It comes with Windows 10 pre-installed, but it also has a forked, or unique, version of Android 5.1 called Remix OS.

Remix OS is great for knocking projects out and staying productive because it allows you to run multiple apps and windows at once — yes, within the Android OS.

You can buy a matching keyboard dock that really transforms the tablet into something special. Though, admittedly, the dock will drain the battery faster than if you use it without.

Finally, even though Chuwi is easier on your wallet, they didn’t skimp when building their hardware. It’s made of solid aluminum and is remarkably sturdy even for a cheap, generic-type device.

For a great price, this thing comes packed with some great specs as well. It has 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage space and is powered by an Intel Cherry Trail CPU (Z8300), so it’s relatively powerful in terms of processing power.

What It’s Best At: The dual-boot support means you can have the best of both worlds in a single device — during boot you choose between Windows or Android. The custom Remix OS is much better at running multiple programs than stock Android.

Price: $230 through major retailers, but you can easily find it cheaper

So, whether you’re a full-time remote employee or someone who likes to take on freelance projects now and then, these three tablets can help you stay on top of your telecommute work, no matter where you are.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2016/10/3-tablet-choices-remote-work.html/feed096413Amazon releases several low-cost tabletshttp://www.pocketables.com/2015/09/amazon-releases-several-low-cost-tablets.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/09/amazon-releases-several-low-cost-tablets.html#respondThu, 17 Sep 2015 16:54:53 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=93035On September 30th, Amazon will be flooding the market with low-priced Amazon-centric tablets priced from $49.99-$229.99. The Amazon Fire 7″ at $49.99 and the Amazon Fire Kids Tablet ($99.99) appear to be the same quad-core 1.3GHz tablets with 720P and VGA cameras and 8GB of internal storage with a 128GB capable MicroSD expansion slot. With [&hellip

]]>On September 30th, Amazon will be flooding the market with low-priced Amazon-centric tablets priced from $49.99-$229.99.

The Amazon Fire 7″ at $49.99 and the Amazon Fire Kids Tablet ($99.99) appear to be the same quad-core 1.3GHz tablets with 720P and VGA cameras and 8GB of internal storage with a 128GB capable MicroSD expansion slot. With a resolution of 1024×600 it’s something to sneeze at if you’re a pixel snob (I am,) but it’s a solid looking tablet. It has mono sound and single band B/G/N WiFi.

The Amazon Fire Kids Tablet comes with child armor and a two-year replacement guarantee that if your kid breaks it they’ll fix it.

The Fire HD8 comes in at $149.99, an 8″ 1280×800 display (better,) quad 1.5GHz system, 5MP rear facing camera, and a front-facing camera they list as 720p. It comes with either 8GB of storage at $149.99, or 16GB internal storage for $169.99.

The HD8 also includes Dolby Audio with dual stereo speakers.

The Fire HD 10 starts at $229.99 and has a 10.1″ display which is also at 1280×800, all the specs appear the same as the HD8 except size, weight, and the starting internal storage is 16 but you can upgrade to 32.

All of the Fire tablets come with Fire OS 5 “Bellini” which is a derivative of Android. They ship so that you’re locked into the Amazon ecosystem, so be aware that things that require Google Play Services may never be supported.

Then again, if you’re looking for a pure Android tablet, these will probably be rootable shortly after launch so I expect to see a method to get Google Play and Play Services on there soon enough.

The only one of the tablets I’m interested in is the Fire Kids Tablet, I’ve got one preordered. The Fire HD 10 looks like it will be a pretty nice little beast, but I’ll have to have hands on to determine if they did it right or not.

I think their kid and 7″ tablet are probably going to be the winners of this particular set of offerings.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/09/amazon-releases-several-low-cost-tablets.html/feed093035Deal alert: Get a free T-Mobile LG tablet when you sign up for a data plan for at least $10/monthhttp://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/deal-alert-get-a-free-t-mobile-lg-tablet-when-you-sign-up-for-a-data-plan-for-at-least-10month.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/deal-alert-get-a-free-t-mobile-lg-tablet-when-you-sign-up-for-a-data-plan-for-at-least-10month.html#respondTue, 16 Jun 2015 20:42:37 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=92074TMoNews has just uncovered a sweet Father’s Day promotion that will hit T-Mobile retail locations tomorrow. Anyone who buys T-Mobile’s new budget LG G Pad tablet will get it for free, as long as they sign up for a data plan with at least 1GB per month (in other words, any data plan that costs [&hellip

]]>TMoNews has just uncovered a sweet Father’s Day promotion that will hit T-Mobile retail locations tomorrow. Anyone who buys T-Mobile’s new budget LG G Pad tablet will get it for free, as long as they sign up for a data plan with at least 1GB per month (in other words, any data plan that costs at least $10/month).

Here’s how it works:

Eligible customers will have an equipment installment plan for $9.99/month ($239.76 total). However, they will also receive a credit of $9.99 each month, making the tablet completely free.

If a customer cancels service or downgrades to a cheaper tablet plan, the remaining balance on the EIP will become due.

It’s a pretty straightforward deal, although it does seem to be a sneaky way to get customers to commit to two years of service without actually holding them down with a contract. In any case, I still think this is worthy of the “deal alert” headline – especially because the “Match Your Data” plan is eligible for this promotion. (In my case, I get 5GB of tablet data per month for only $10, plus this free tablet.)

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/deal-alert-get-a-free-t-mobile-lg-tablet-when-you-sign-up-for-a-data-plan-for-at-least-10month.html/feed092074I owned a used Nexus 9 for about 14 hourshttp://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/i-owned-a-used-nexus-9-for-about-14-hours.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/i-owned-a-used-nexus-9-for-about-14-hours.html#commentsMon, 15 Jun 2015 18:55:38 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=92043A deal that caught my eye popped up on eBay the other day. I’ve been looking for a tablet and had some recomendations on what to get. After three recommendations for the Nexus 9, I decided to give it a try and drink the Kool Aid. TL;DR: This is just Paul’s weekend banging his head against [&hellip

]]>A deal that caught my eye popped up on eBay the other day. I’ve been looking for a tablet and had some recomendations on what to get. After three recommendations for the Nexus 9, I decided to give it a try and drink the Kool Aid.

TL;DR: This is just Paul’s weekend banging his head against something that should not have been a problem.

Keep in mind, my main area of focus has been HTC for a long time with some massive Samsung work for a hospital. I’d not been exposed to the Google side, but as I’ve got roughly two months before I need something in place I went ahead and bought a factory reconditioned Nexus 9 CDMA/LTE/GSM edition for about $299 from a seller with 100something positive reviews and only two negatives dealing with packaging. I thought, “This sounds peachy!”

That’s not actually what I thought, but if I can’t make the comment in the comment system without getting moderated I’m not writing it in the article.

An absurdly well packaged Nexus 9 showed up a few days later. Whatever packing problems there were before, they weren’t having now. I popped it out, booted it up, and it had a Google account associated with it. This raised my hackles a bit as I’d heard tales of how when they’re associated with a person you need that person to hand over control to you. John pretty much verified this.

I scribbled down his information, did a factory reset from within Android, and about 10 minutes later the Nexus popped back up and the programs were all gone and it was still associated with that owner.

I hit up XDA and also shot the previous owner an email telling him I was some random guy from the internet who had come into possession of his old tablet, wondering if he might be able to help should the need arise. I was trying to just move forward and get this thing up and running.

Not finding much help, I did something I’d never done before – I contacted Google tech support. I was through to their chat support within about 12 seconds. It was a bit unreal. I told him the situation and he said I was probably out of luck as since 5.1 you’ve had to have the original owner to do this. I mentioned I was on 5.0.1, and he congratulated me as this was doable and we went on.

That’s when we found that recovery wouldn’t load. Oh, it had loaded before, but while I was on with him it didn’t work. Factory reset from HBoot menu would bomb out in under a second. Everything was working incorrectly. He suggested I flash a new factory image. As I was on 5.0.1, he suggested that or 5.0.2.

I downloaded the LTE Nexus 9 image for 5.0.1 and 5.0.2 and tried flashing both. Both gave me failed-pu when flashing the radios. I looked up the hboot version and guess what: this was the WiFi version of the Nexus 9. I would have stopped here and returned it for being the wrong product and being registered to someone, but I was curious to see if I could get it repaired and then return it or get a partial refund as it was a less expensive version of the tablet.

5.0.1 downloaded, I flashed, and the radios took. The main image took. The update flash failed looking for a .sig file that was not there. This was an image from Google, not like I was getting this on the street.

I found no solution for the .sig issue other than to extract the update.zip and fastboot flash each one of them. Everything was going fine until I flashed the cache file, and at that point the tablet froze. I got back into it and flashed again, this time it seemed to take.

I had a normally working recovery again. I went in, chose factory reset, things started going well. Unfortunately when it hit that it was formatting cache I started getting I/O errors. After several attempts and much headbanging the verdict is it most likely had a bad EMMC and there was no way to fix it.

If it hadn’t, I could have factory reset the original owner away considering it was on 5.0.1, but if it’d been at 5.1 I’d have been even more out of luck.

So that’s what I did this weekend. Today the unit was packaged up and shipped back.

Fun times.

I am without the refund at the moment so out of the tablet market for the next week or two – as long as the seller’s not a tool.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/i-owned-a-used-nexus-9-for-about-14-hours.html/feed992043What tablet should I get?http://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/what-tablet-should-i-get.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/what-tablet-should-i-get.html#commentsFri, 05 Jun 2015 20:12:18 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=91981I’m in the market for a tablet with some very specific specs and uses that, unfortunately, are not easily searchable and I’m wondering what your suggestions are. The basic idea here is in about two months for about two months straight I’m going to be pulling new baby duty, which means I’ll be up quite a bit [&hellip

]]>I’m in the market for a tablet with some very specific specs and uses that, unfortunately, are not easily searchable and I’m wondering what your suggestions are.

The basic idea here is in about two months for about two months straight I’m going to be pulling new baby duty, which means I’ll be up quite a bit at night holding a wiggle worm and attempting to occupy my brain while I give up on the notion of sleeping through the night.

Book/Comic Reader

I’d really like something a proper size for reading ebooks and also comic books (I know, don’t laugh. It’s what you have the attention span for when you get a new kid.) This puts the ideal screen size larger than most of the tablets I’ve played with but definitely need smaller and lighter than the Microsoft Surface Pro 3.

About the size of a comic book page – 7 x 10.5 viewable screen space would be ideal.

Also as I’m going to be reading holding this thing, light is better. Seriously, you hold a two something pound monster and try to get more than 11 pages in an ebook without Googling “carpal tunnel syndrome”.

While this may be an Android specific request, it would be nice if the device can connect to a Windows share to grab source files from. I’ve got 26 kajillion public domain CBRs and would like to be able to access them without having to choose which ones I want on the tablet.

When you’re trapped under an infant at 3:00 a.m., they don’t really take kindly to you going upstairs to plug in a tablet, wait for iTunes to pop up, drag the items over to the app, wait for it to sync, and then come back down to handle cranky newborn.

Baby monitor

Part of the job of the tablet is going to be using it to monitor baby #2 when it finally gets here. While the specs for a baby monitor aren’t anything a modern tablet can’t handle, having the screen on all night on basically the same image tends to lead to burn in on some tablets. My Sony Tablet S has a pretty good ghost image of my daughter’s crib.

Root/reportability

It would be nice if I had something I could write about that wasn’t covered by every blog out there. Why don’t I write much about Apple? Because there are 11 trillion Apple blogs out there. I mean I wouldn’t turn down an iPad Air 7 or whatever, but there’s not much for a root guy to write about in that market that isn’t covered by freakin’ Forbes magazine.

Ability to switch users

I’d like to use it, my wife would like to use it, I’m betting baby #1 would like to use it. I’d rather not have my home screen have their junk, and I’m pretty sure they’d rather not have links to scripts and applications that could brick the device.

Tough enough to survive a toddler with peanut butter hands

This one’s tricky – most tablets will survive a toddler without huge issues. Toddlers are short, they drop things closer to the ground, they’re less likely to break a tablet in a fall than you or I are. Gorilla glass is tough.

However, the peanut butter hands is where things get tricky. Buttons without proper seals tend to collect grime, and peanut butter. To date my tablets (the Sony Tablet S – too slow to handle, and the iPad 2 – no storage, can’t access Windows share, completely filled with educational apps,) have survived only due to cases that cover the buttons with soft rubber.

Not saying that a tablet that requires a case is a deal breaker, but it would be nice to not have to spend an extra $30 on that.

Fast enough to not make me want to break it

One of the things with my Tablet S that drives me batty is I can tap on a text input and wait five seconds for a keyboard to appear, and then wait another five before I can input text.

Fast enough to not make my daughter want to break it

I packed the iPad 2 for a Memorial Day weekend trip and headed down to Atlanta. It didn’t get broken out until we were on the way back and the toddler grew a great sense of ennui and disenfranchisement from the driving class.

I knew something was wrong from the angry outbursts from the peanut gallery, but she somehow created a kernel panic, the OS crashed, and it had to start up again. That thing takes forever and three days to start.

Sound

One of the things I love about the HTC One M8 and M9 are Boomsound speakers. I never thought there would be a use for these until I had a kid, now I’m told on the idea of a cell phone with speakers. I can play music my toddler likes, I can watch some movies if I’m just sitting around waiting for something and haven’t brought headphones,) and games are pretty enjoyable without noticing that my ears don’t seem to ever fit quite properly with whatever earbuds I’m trying this month.

Sound quality isn’t a must, but it’s a strong factor in what makes the perfect tablet for me.

Power / battery / geese

It doesn’t have to last forever, but a few days of activity that’s mostly reading would be nice. Also something that can charge fairly rapidly so if I’m in a situation where I’m about to head out and want the tablet and it’s not charged I can get it charged to usable for a bit.

honk honk honk

Updates

It would be nice if there’s a track record of updates. I’ve got an Android tablet that as far as I can tell was end of life the day I bought it, and the updates for the iPad 2 seem to have mostly been a downgrade in performance (this is just me griping about iOS 8 on the iPad 2, not iOS 8 in general).

Sensors and things

Doesn’t need to have connectivity past WiFi, would be nice to have GPS, NFC, tilt/compass sensors, and a camera.

Wrap up

While my ideal device is a comic book sized Android tablet with 24 cores, 64 gigabytes of memory, and a couple of petabytes of storage, that currently doesn’t exist, and every tablet I’ve run across looks good on paper, but something about it generally is defeated by my requirements.

I have no idea what this tablet is, I’m hoping one of you have some input. Or just tell me about your tablet, what’s good and what bites about it.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/06/what-tablet-should-i-get.html/feed1591981Android 5.1.1 is now available for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, and LTE Nexus 7http://www.pocketables.com/2015/05/android-5-1-1-is-now-available-for-nexus-4-nexus-5-and-lte-nexus-7.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/05/android-5-1-1-is-now-available-for-nexus-4-nexus-5-and-lte-nexus-7.html#commentsThu, 21 May 2015 15:16:10 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=91827For a few weeks, the latest version of Android Lollipop (5.1.1) was only available on a few WiFi-only Nexus tablets, like the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10. Nexus fans who had cellular-enabled devices, including phones, were left out in the cold – until now. Yesterday, Google began posting factory images for Android 5.1.1 for [&hellip

For a few weeks, the latest version of Android Lollipop (5.1.1) was only available on a few WiFi-only Nexus tablets, like the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10. Nexus fans who had cellular-enabled devices, including phones, were left out in the cold – until now.

Yesterday, Google began posting factory images for Android 5.1.1 for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 by LG, and the LTE-enabled Nexus 7 tablet by ASUS. OTA updates have also started rolling out for these devices, but these typically take several weeks to reach everyone.

What this means, though, is that the only device that still doesn’t have Android 5.1.1 is the Nexus 6 by Motorola.

This will likely change soon, though. We’ve already reported that Des Smith from T-Mobile expects an update to allow WiFi calling on the Nexus 6 to be ready by the end of this week, and it’s very likely that this could be the very same 5.1.1 update that hasn’t reached the Nexus 6 yet. Hopefully, we’ll know soon enough.

To get your hands on those other factory images, though, check out the source link below.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/05/android-5-1-1-is-now-available-for-nexus-4-nexus-5-and-lte-nexus-7.html/feed191827Android 5.1.1 is finally rolling out for the Google Nexus 9 by HTC, factory image availablehttp://www.pocketables.com/2015/05/android-5-1-1-is-finally-rolling-out-for-the-google-nexus-9-by-htc-factory-image-available.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/05/android-5-1-1-is-finally-rolling-out-for-the-google-nexus-9-by-htc-factory-image-available.html#commentsMon, 11 May 2015 21:43:06 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=91745After way too long running Android 5.0, the Google Nexus 9 by HTC is finally getting an update to Android 5.1.1, the latest version of Android. In fact, it’s getting the update before Google’s other flagship Nexus device, the Nexus 6 by Motorola. The update weighs in at 400.7MB and includes a variety of stability [&hellip

After way too long running Android 5.0, the Google Nexus 9 by HTC is finally getting an update to Android 5.1.1, the latest version of Android. In fact, it’s getting the update before Google’s other flagship Nexus device, the Nexus 6 by Motorola.

The update weighs in at 400.7MB and includes a variety of stability and bug fixes that should hopefully get the ailing Nexus 9 up and running in tip-top condition in no time. (Many users, including me, have been suffering through increasing amounts of lag with no fix in sight for way too long.)

Now that the update is finally rolling out over the air, Google has also been kind enough to update the Nexus factory images page, in case you like to update your Nexus devices that way instead. As of publication, the factory image is only available for the WiFi version of the tablet – the LTE Nexus 9 is still sitting at 5.0.2.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/05/android-5-1-1-is-finally-rolling-out-for-the-google-nexus-9-by-htc-factory-image-available.html/feed291745Google has officially stopped selling the 2013 Nexus 7http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/google-has-officially-stopped-selling-the-2013-nexus-7.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/google-has-officially-stopped-selling-the-2013-nexus-7.html#respondMon, 27 Apr 2015 19:22:31 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=91602Google has approached the latest generation of Nexus devices differently than in the past – instead of halting all sales of previous generation Nexus phones and tablets, Google sold the Nexus 5 by LG and the Nexus 6 by Motorola side by side for a while. It had been doing the same for the 2013 [&hellip

Google has approached the latest generation of Nexus devices differently than in the past – instead of halting all sales of previous generation Nexus phones and tablets, Google sold the Nexus 5 by LG and the Nexus 6 by Motorola side by side for a while. It had been doing the same for the 2013 Nexus 7 by ASUS and the Nexus 9 by HTC, too – until now.

As 9 to 5 Google recently noticed, the Nexus 7 is now listed in the Google Store as “no longer available for purchase.”

Personally, I find this move very short-sighted. Just like not everyone wants a 6-inch phone, not everyone wants an over-9-inch tablet, either. The Nexus 7 was a perfect size for many people, and I still find myself reaching for my older Nexus 7 more often than my newer Nexus 9. It’s just so much better for couch use at night while I’m watching TV.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/google-has-officially-stopped-selling-the-2013-nexus-7.html/feed091602Hurry: Groupon is selling the 16GB 2013 Nexus 7 for only $134.99http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/hurry-groupon-is-selling-the-16gb-2013-nexus-7-for-only-134-99.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/hurry-groupon-is-selling-the-16gb-2013-nexus-7-for-only-134-99.html#respondMon, 27 Apr 2015 19:12:21 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=91600If you care more about good deals than bleeding edge technology, you’ll want to head over to Groupon right away, where you can get a 2013 Google Nexus 7 with 16GB of on-board storage for only $134.99. To get the deal, here to the source link below and put the tablet in your cart. It [&hellip

If you care more about good deals than bleeding edge technology, you’ll want to head over to Groupon right away, where you can get a 2013 Google Nexus 7 with 16GB of on-board storage for only $134.99.

To get the deal, here to the source link below and put the tablet in your cart. It will show up as $149.99, but go down to $134.99 once you enter the coupon code sale3. Shipping is free, and taxes also won’t be assessed in most places.

I got my LG G Watch through a similar Groupon deal, and the only word of caution I have is this: It takes forever for anything you order from Groupon to reach you. Well, not forever – but in an age where Amazon Prime has conditioned me to expect my deliveries within two business days or less, it feels like forever when I have to wait two-three weeks.

It’s still a good deal, though. But hurry – there’s only a limited quantity available, and this is for today only.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/hurry-groupon-is-selling-the-16gb-2013-nexus-7-for-only-134-99.html/feed091600Android 5.1.1 has started rolling out right nowhttp://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/android-5-1-1-has-started-rolling-out-right-now.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/android-5-1-1-has-started-rolling-out-right-now.html#commentsTue, 21 Apr 2015 19:20:09 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=91546The wait for Android 5.1.1 is over, as it has started rolling out to Nexus devices today, and the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) has been updated with code for 5.1.1. Currently, only the factory image for the Nexus Player has been posted to the official Nexus Factory Images page, with its build being updated [&hellip

]]>The wait for Android 5.1.1 is over, as it has started rolling out to Nexus devices today, and the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) has been updated with code for 5.1.1.

Currently, only the factory image for the Nexus Player has been posted to the official Nexus Factory Images page, with its build being updated to LMY47V. Other Nexus devices are still sitting at 5.1 (or, in the case of the Nexus 9, 5.0.1), although this is expected to change soon. No reports of OTA updates have started yet, but again, this should happen sooner rather than later.

We also aren’t quite sure of all the changes and updates coming with Android 5.1.1, but many hope that the infamous memory leak bug that has plagued some users will finally be patched. Additionally, there is hope that WiFi calling will finally be enabled on the Google Nexus 6 by Motorola for T-Mobile customers – the company has hinted that this should be right around the corner.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/android-5-1-1-has-started-rolling-out-right-now.html/feed491546Deal alert: The Kindle Fire HD 7 is only $79 todayhttp://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/deal-alert-the-kindle-fire-hd-7-is-only-79-today.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/deal-alert-the-kindle-fire-hd-7-is-only-79-today.html#respondMon, 20 Apr 2015 20:32:04 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=91525Looking for a cheap tablet that’s still fairly capable? Head over to Amazon right now – for today only, the popular Kindle Fire HD 7 is on sale for only $79, which is $60 off the normal asking price of $139. That’s a whopping 43 percent off. For less than a Benjamin, you’ll get: Beautiful 7″ [&hellip

Looking for a cheap tablet that’s still fairly capable? Head over to Amazon right now – for today only, the popular Kindle Fire HD 7 is on sale for only $79, which is $60 off the normal asking price of $139. That’s a whopping 43 percent off.

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/deal-alert-the-kindle-fire-hd-7-is-only-79-today.html/feed0915252013 LTE Nexus 7 by ASUS also gets updated to Android 5.1http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/2013-lte-nexus-7-by-asus-also-gets-updated-to-android-5-1.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/2013-lte-nexus-7-by-asus-also-gets-updated-to-android-5-1.html#respondTue, 14 Apr 2015 23:11:56 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=91448Just days after Google started the rollout of Android 5.1 for the Nexus 4 by LG, it now looks like the 2013 LTE-enabled Nexus 7 by ASUS is also getting updated to Android 5.1 … finally. It’s only been, what, five weeks? Android 5.1 contains a bunch of bug fixes and a few new features, as well. [&hellip

Just days after Google started the rollout of Android 5.1 for the Nexus 4 by LG, it now looks like the 2013 LTE-enabled Nexus 7 by ASUS is also getting updated to Android 5.1 … finally. It’s only been, what, five weeks?

Android 5.1 contains a bunch of bug fixes and a few new features, as well.

Interestingly, the WiFi version of the 2013 Nexus 7 still hasn’t been updated to Android 5.1, which is strange – it’s usually the LTE versions of tablets that get held up, not the other way around! Other than that, the only other Android 5.1 update we’re still waiting for is the one for the Nexus 9, about which Google has been silent. In this case, speculation is that Google had some issues with the 64-bit processor, and it’s likely that Google will just jump straight to Android 5.1.1 in the coming days or weeks.

If you’re like me and still have that only Nexus 7 laying around somewhere, hit that update button and let us know how you like it!

]]>http://www.pocketables.com/2015/04/2013-lte-nexus-7-by-asus-also-gets-updated-to-android-5-1.html/feed091448ASUS is trying to unload its old stock of Nexus 7 tablets and accessorieshttp://www.pocketables.com/2015/02/asus-trying-unload-old-stock-nexus-7-tablets-accessories.html
http://www.pocketables.com/2015/02/asus-trying-unload-old-stock-nexus-7-tablets-accessories.html#commentsMon, 23 Feb 2015 21:58:12 +0000http://www.pocketables.com/?p=90747Even though the Google Nexus 7 by ASUS is almost two years old, it’s still an awesome little tablet – and if you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll even go so far as to say I like it better than the Nexus 9 by HTC. In any case, although deals on refurbished units pop [&hellip

Even though the Google Nexus 7 by ASUS is almost two years old, it’s still an awesome little tablet – and if you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll even go so far as to say I like it better than the Nexus 9 by HTC.

In any case, although deals on refurbished units pop up all the time, there aren’t very many times with good deals exist on brand new ones – especially straight from the manufacturer. In fact, this might be your last chance to score such a good deal on a brand new Nexus 7.

Right now, the official ASUS store is selling the 16GB 2013 Nexus 7 for $199, including an official ASUS travel cover, wireless charging stand, and dock. The cover even comes in your choice of five different colors.

I often find myself reaching for my Nexus 7 instead of my Nexus 9 when lounging at home on the couch, and at this price, this deal is hard to beat. If you love deals but are hesitant about refurbs, you’ll definitely want to act quick.